Our night was punctuated by trips to the loo as both Chris and I had delicate stomachs. Added to which someone in the room next door was snoring fit to burst and we got very little sleep - two hours would be a generous estimate.
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| And baby came too . . |
Today however, we were due to go for an elephant ride and neither of us was prepared to miss that. When we finally got up we found that several other folk were also suffering and had decided to stay behind. Hazel was ill on the journey and we were all feeling a little jaded when we finally arrived.
We had the option of sitting in a little two seater 'settee' facing out, or straddling the beast and looking forward. Chris and I decided to face forwards and were soon sitting up enjoying the ride. Our bull elephant was quite a show-man and made a delightful companion, ably led by his handler. They had a
great relationship, with the elephant stroking the handler's hand with his trunk. At one stage Chris dropped her packet of tissues and the elephant picked them up and handed them back. On command he put his trunk up in salute to the others, and at one stage we were on a ridge looking back at the rest which must have made a great sight in the early morning sunlight.
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| Mum with baby hiding behind |
We saw many rhinos, swamp deer, a cobra skin and a honey bee swarm. Once back at base we watched as the elephants were relieved of their saddles and allowed a bath in the nearby pool. Behind them a Pied Harrier was perched on a low tree.
After an hour we moved off for breakfast. Needless to say I abstained on this occasion, as so far I had escaped the full force of an upset stomach! (too much information I am sure)
After breakfast we were off to the jeeps and another drive. More elephants, rhinos and birds including:
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| Early morning light at Kaziranga |
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| Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon |
Red Junglefowl, Teal, Pintail, Wigeon, Indian Roller, White-throated Kingfisher, Spotted Dove, a pretty Yellow-footed Green-Pigeon, Common Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Bronze-winged Jacana, Northern and River Lapwing, Red-wattled Lapwing, River Tern and Pallas's Fish-eagle. At one stage there were vultures soaring high in the sky, Richard and Sujan were able to identify one of them as a Slender-billed Vulture. Crested-serpent Eagle, Greater-spotted Eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle and Changeable Hawk Eagle were all added to our birds of prey list. On one of the pools we saw large numbers of Great and Little Cormorant, Darter and Spot-billed Pelican. Little Heron was another addition for the day. Black-necked Stork flew in small groups overhead, and Woolly-necked Stork fed in nearby fields. Long-tailed and Grey-backed Shrike were also seen well.
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| Elephant Egrets perhaps?? |
On our way back to the boat we saw House Sparrow in a nearby town and also added Feral Pigeon for the day list.
Back on the boat we had the chance to birdwatch along the river again, and here were the usual specialities including Bar-headed Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, Gadwall, Indian Spot-billed Duck, Pied Kingfisher, Asian Palm Swift, Osprey, White-tailed Eagle, Grey-headed Fish-eagle, Himalayan Griffon Vulture and Short-toed Eagle were also seen as we sailed along.
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| Black-eared Kite |
Eventually we arrived at our overnight mooring just outside a village alongside the river. On a rock in the middle of the river there was a Ruddy Turnstone and Black-eared Kite took advantage of the presence of man to provide food.
